The Notes: Week of April 25 - April 29, 2022

Well we did have a spring after all, neighbors!  I hope you are enjoying today's warm temps (despite the blustery winds) and enjoyed our warm Saturday as much as I did.  Hopefully, these days are harbingers of many more lovely weather days to come.  

We are now into the first Committee Meetings Week of the new council for the 2022-23 year.  Your alderman was fortune enough to be assigned to four -- count 'em, FOUR! -- committees in this council year.  I am pleased to rejoin the Human Resources and Information Technologies and the Safety and Licensing Committees for a second year and, this year, am fortunate to be a part of the Parks and Recreation and Parade Committees as well!  If you should have any questions or concerns pertinent to any these committees -- or any questions whatsoever on City of Appleton government -- please reach out to me!

Each of the agendas for the committee meetings this week contains standard "new committee" action items like confirming meeting times and electing vice chairmen.  There are, however, some other city business action items as well.

Monday, 04/25/2022

Municipal Services Committee - 4:30pm:  This committee will review a request from a resident on North Providence Avenue (at its corner with Bluetopaz Drive) to allow a driveway of greater than twelve feet wade and parking for a camper (longer than 24 feet) in the front yard of this corner-lot property.  I'm confused and a bit concerned about this request at this time (since I've not yet heard much about the request and why it's needed).  Most variance requests go through the city's Board of Zoning Appeals and this one is moving through this committee instead.  Why?  I am not yet certain; but will be tuning in to this meeting to inquire further in this regard.  If you are a neighbor to this property and have any questions or concerns, please contact me and I'll try to get them answered right away. 

The committee will also review and discuss a new resolution regarding Soldier's Square in downtown Appleton.  The text of the resolution and my initial thoughts can be found on my Alderman Hartzheim Facebook page (this post in particular).  (If you don't yet follow this Facebook page, please consider doing so as I post and re-post many important messages from the City Hall and Municipal Services pages there!)  

Finance Committee - 5:30pm:  The primary item this committee will discuss and potentially approve is an ordinance and a budget amendment to accept a $505,000 Principal Forgiveness Loan (a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiative) to cover the costs related to private side lead water service line replacements in the city. 

Parks and Recreation Committee - 6:30pm:  This week's Parks and Rec Committee meeting looks to be largely a formality as its only agenda items are to elect a vice chairman, confirm a bi-weekly meeting time, and designate a contact person who can answer specific questions on the agendas of this committee this year. 

Tuesday, 04/26/2022

Fox Cities Transmit Commission - 3pm:  In their first meeting of this new council year, this commission will do the same as the Parks and Recreation Committee above and discuss and approve the March 2022 payments and financial and ridership reports of Valley Transit as well. 

Utilities Committee - 5pm: Following suit, this committee will do as the previous two and elect a vice chairman, etc.  This committee will also discuss the approval of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant for the replacement of lead water service lines in the city (as mentioned above in the notes on the agenda of the Finance Committee).

Wednesday, 04/27/2022

City Plan Commission - 3:30pm:  This week's commission meeting is cancelled.

Community and Economic Development Committee - 4:30pm:  See the above information under "Parks and Recreation Committee" and substitute "Community and Economic Development" for "Parks and Recreation." 😁

Safety and Licensing Committee - 5:30pm:  Beyond electing a vice chairman, this committee will also take up a few action items.  The city's Emergency Management Coordinator has presented this committee with updated (for 2022 through 2026)  Hazard Mitigation Plans for the city in cooperation with Winnebago and Calumet Counties. These plans are required (by Congressional act) of local governments before said local governments can receive federal grant monies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for "pre-disaster mitigation projects."  I expect to ask more about what said "pre-disaster mitigation projects" are for the city.  But at this time, I do not see an issue with adopting updated plans in cooperation with two of the counties in which the city of Appleton is located. 

The Fire Department is also looking for approval for a "new" position titled Public Education Specialist/Civilian Fire Inspector.  This position did exist prior to 2011 and is requested to be resurrected for the purposes of filling a need for public education fire curriculum development, social media management, and special events organization for the fire department.  The salary for this position (between $51k and $79k) will come from budgeted funds for a position not filled subsequent to the retirement of the city's Fire Protection Engineer on 01/03/2022.

After discussion of approval of a few new liquor licenses and the renewal of many existing liquor licenses, this committee will also be updated on the Appleton Police Department's newest initiative -- the Traffic Safety Unit Officer pilot program.  Discussion of this program was held over during the last meeting of this committee due to time constraints.

Human Resources and Information Technologies (HR/IT) Committee - 6:30pm:  In addition to discussing the fire department's request for a "new" position -- the same one that the Safety and Licensing Committee will have discussed in their earlier meeting on this Wednesday evening -- the HR/IT Committee will also discuss a new position within Valley Transit and a "shared" position in the city's information technology (IT) and human resources departments.  The city is looking to make an 80% part-time human resources administrative support assistant into a full-time shared HR/IT administrative support assistant.  And Valley Transit must (to comply with several federal laws and mandates) add a Safety and Compliance Specialist to their organization.  The annual salary for this position is estimated at over $100k.  About 60% of this salary will be paid for by combined Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Transportation Administration grants.  The remaining 40% will need to come from "local funding sources," with an estimated $7,200 from the City of Appleton.  

And that will bring this week of the first committee meetings of the 2022-23 Appleton Common Council to a close.  If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above items or have any new concerns as an Appleton resident, please reach out to me.  It has always been and continues to be one of my goals to be available for you should you have any questions or need any help with city government.  

And these blog posts will also continue since another goal of mine is to keep you as informed as possible of the "inner workings" of Appleton city government.  Please feel free to share your feedback on these blog posts as well.

Have a great last week of April and I'll see you back here when we round the bend into May 2022!